Sprint’s CEO Dan Hesse sat down with the Financial Times and re-confirmed the wireless provider’s option to pursue LTE if and when the time is right. According to Hesse, Sprint and Clearwire are in the enviable position of having access to ample 4G spectrum that is able to support LTE on top of the current WiMAX network. This over-abundance of 4G spectrum, and the possibility of deploying LTE, is causing analysts to re-consider the potential for a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. Rumors of a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile surfaced in 2008 but the talks reportedly stalled because the two companies use two very different and incompatible wireless technologies (*cough*Nextel*cough). If both carriers adopt LTE, a merger is more likely as Sprint would receive a boost from T-Mobile’s 33 million subscribers and T-Mobile would gain much needed access to 4G spectrum. Hesse acknowledged that there was a “logic” to the merger but failed to comment on the possibility that the two wireless providers are in discussions.

Actually Sprint is the most improved company in customer satisfaction over the passed 2 years across ALL industries according to the ACSI. Now they just need better marketing to make people wake up and realize how much better they have gotten.

Examples of REAL horrible companies would be Verizon for mandating data plans on dumb phones and ungodly expensive plans for smart phones and treating customers like crap with their “we’re the best, our shit don’t stink” attitude…… AT&T for their ridiculous plans and getting rid of unlimited data entirely but yet still barely have a 3G network……. and Apple for knowingly putting out a defective phone and doing absolutely nothing about it.

With all that being said Sprint sounds pretty damn good.

trooth

It is a shame they went WiMax. Another blunder for Sprint. There is a reason they are constantly losing money and customers. They make horrible decisions like the Nextel merger.

Celz

Sprint has enough Spectrum for LTE and Wimax at the same time.. And their WiMax network and WiMax phones can be switched to LTE at will.. They will still use the same frequency and they will still be OFDMA based.. LTE and Wimax aren’t much different..

TONY

I don’t see how t-mo and S will think of a merger when one is CDMA and the other is GSM. Will Sprint ever learn its error when it did this with Nextel and its shitty iDSN network? I guess time will tell.

TONY

In which I wanted to add that, both companies are also horrible. Sprint Mobile FTL!

Tony

Did you even read this? If Sprint goes to LTE, just like T-Mobile plans to, then all there is to worry about is the Nextel network which could be spun off anyway.

StevieJobs

LTE is a totally “new” network. It would no longer be CDMA and GSM, the conversion would make the network LTE.

Gibna

LTE is GSM 4G

T

LTE is the GSM ***ASSOCIATION***’s choice for 4G so they all share the same standard. LTE is not, will never be, and is in no way related to, the technology of GSM.

T Man

Thank you. So many people get this point wrong. LTE from a technological standpoint shares many more underpinnings to CDMA technology than it does to GSM.

d3fpo3t

Sprint did probly the smarted thing in merging with nextel
Due to the Shit ton of spectrum that nextel owned Sprint can use ALL of it for 4G and have the largest 4G footprint

Celz

Stop sayin stuff that makes sense.. Sprint can run WiMax and LTE at the same time with the amount of Spectrum it has.. I may be wrong but I heard Sprint has more 4G spectrum than VZW and AT&T put together, even though its a high frequency that doesnt penetrate as well.. Oh well I saw an Evo pull down 4.9 mbps inside a bar in downtown LA

Get Android Enjoy Freedom

And then there will be only 3 providers, I think it will be a win win for both companies. ” S – Mobile ”
It would do both companies good to merge and get T-Mobile on WiMax and LTE on top of that. Hope it happens.

Stop Monopolization

It may be a win for both companies, but it would be a loss for consumers. The fewer choices we have as consumers, the higher our costs will be and the crappier our service will be. The “big” cell phone companies continue to buy out the “little” ones, creating more revenue for them, but less competition at the same time. So I agree that it would be a win-win for them, I hope it does not happen because it would be a loss for everyone else.

QuickWeevil

I see where you’re going with that, but, I think a Sprint-T-Mobile merger would actually be a good thing. As it stands now Verizon and AT&T are the only “major” carriers. Sprint and T-Mobile lose subscribers every quarter and the other two gain those that leave. Creating a new powerhouse carrier to stand against Verizon and AT&T would work to our favor IMO.

EggoEspada

They might as well take the chance. T-Mobile is already falling and its been showing that it wouldn’t have much longer till T-Mobile US would be finished.
Sprint is pretty much saving them and themselves in the process. This can be big if adaption plays out well. I’ll assume prices will go up, but if they still keep them lower than others, they might obtain more customer base. Over At&t and Verizon..

Dan Hesse

Most companies get bigger and consume competitors because they offer BETTER service, not LESS service. Economies of scale would offer us better service because we would have more overlapping cell towers compared to worse service from fragmented coverage by several different and incompatible providers.

Also, it would be a domestic monopoly but that wouldn’t prohibit a foreign competitor from entering the market.

d3fpo3t

Buy metropcs and Leap wireless too and the T-Sprint combo would be the largest carrier in the US they would basically own 90% of the prepaid market and a third of the post paid

Jarrett

Right after this merger happens I predict that BlockBuster and Hollywood Video will merge their two fledgling companies to make two heaping piles of dung versus the four smaller heaps.

Shareholders rejoice, you are about to lose even more of your investment dollar.

randomsprintguy

sounds like a plan to me – that would boost subsribers to around 80 – 82 million and will make the race for #1 tight amoung the remaining three. Why cant Sprint operate 3 different networks? (iden, cdma, and gsm) there are a few candian providors doing it just fine, telus anyone?

randomsprintguy

Also wanted to add a few things – this would bring tmobiles great customer service to sprint great network. one company needs better customer service and the other needs better coverage – problem solved. also as a retail rep for sprint this could be dangrous for the security of my job as they wouldnt need 2 or 3 of the same stores in the same area.

Sin City

Sprint is replacing their core network (CDMA) to something else. That something else could be HSPA+, which would make the merger even better. Only Verizon is holding on to CDMA in the US, but once their LTE standard includes Voice, they might change their stand as well.

Sin City

This is why comment rating on this site should be removed. Where in my above post, was a diss to any carrier? Smh

Rugbychix

You do realize it will be years and years before Verizon turns off the lights on their CDMA network? For roaming reasons LTE phones for Verizon will be dual radio. Plus it will save valuable capacity in the LTE system until the point in which Verizon is ready to use their CDMA spectrum for LTE as well.

Think about how long TDMA lasted…

Sin City

Yeah till 2018. You do have a good point though.

D-man

Stranger things have happened, but I don’t see how this financially makes a lot of sense. I’m not in favor of any Sprint mergers now given their trouble making them work. I would much prefer to see Sprint trying to partner with Google, which would give Sprint more credibility and Google more access to wireless without getting into wireless.

Jnl813

This would be good for both companies, and if this was to happen, imagine the possibilties. That means that then they would make an Evo GSM version and sell more units(including other phones ) I mean just in general for them to say “we are both a GSM and CDMA provider”…WOW

Kevin

I have no problem with Sprint. I came from AT&T, so I KNOW what horrible customer service and quality are.

My phone is excellent (the EVO) and call quality is fantastic as well. All of the reps I have spoken to have been great to deal with and the monthly plan for unlimited data/mobile to mobile talk and data (regardless of carrier) for $79 is the best on the market.

You can’t beat that with a stick.
Go Sprint!

ckeegan

wait, you mean sprint jumped the gun on something (WiMax) and then had to backtrack, causing them to fall behind the competition? maybe that’s somewhere in their mission statement, because this surely isn’t the first time.

Sin City

Sprint backtracked shit, as they will carry two different standards. If they do decide to plug, it’s still business. Hesse and Clearwire said time and time, they wouldn’t mind jumping on LTE, when the time is ready. The technology they jumped the gun on is in the lead in the US., and they plan on upgrading it to WiMax 802.16 Enhanced by the end of the year. Seriously, practice hating until its perfect.

Celz

Yea Sprint/ Clear are currently at over a million 4g customers.. I think if we just got rid of the 3g, 4g, hspa, wimax, lte and called the network by the standard people wouldnt be so confused…

All this carrier bashing needs to stop. Some work better then others in different others. While it’s debatable that VZ works better then most in most areas, Sprin, T-Mo, and AT&T work great in a lot of areas, that cover hundreds of millions. So knock it off.

If Sprint can continue their push in customer service (it has improved, dramatically), and adopt T-Mo’s postpaid CS division, that would be a big plus. Add that to Spring already having Wimax and then possibly adopting LTE, it could be a HUGE win for Sprint. It would definitely position them in good shape.

StevieJobs

You stop.

The Robot Devil

The majority of posters that bash a wireless carrier work for other wireless carriers. They act under the delusion that they making friends with management by making crude negative comments about the competition and therefore are furthering their careers. What they should be doing is making friends with security so they will be nice to them when they box up their stuff and escort them to the door.

burnet

Ive been with sprint for about 10 years. The only problem I have is with their customer service.

TONY

HAHAHAH! Isn’t Sprint’s CS so ghetto? I hate walking into a store just to see a ghetto person greet me with “Canihelpyou” all in once ghetto sentence, and with no bearing what so ever in their body to smile. Sprint can suck my anus.

The Robot Devil

If you hate them so much what were doing in one of their stores? Did AT&T or Verizon ask you to spy on the competation?

Gibna

So IF this go through which name will hold, T-Mobile and Sprint are both big names, I am sure none would agree to part with their logo. I bet both will still operate sales independently.

http://(null) tino72

they need to shake loose nextel anything off there neck. dead no more supported technology. nextel is responsible for all that churn they had last year.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

3 Phones Jugglin

Sprint acquires T-Mo Customers and Juggles Wimax & LTE at the Same Time….That would be SUPERB. I havent disagreed with a single decision Hesse has made since hes taken over.

We Get their Customers…they get access to our Spectrum. Win Win. That would also mean…..MORE ANDROID!

DeeLite

I agree that the most logical thing out of a merger like this would be the creation and migration of all users to LTE with a supported voice standard.

When existing customers are ready to upgrade or for new customers only the GSM/HSPA/LTE network should be an option instead of allowing CDMA/iDEN to continuously co-exist for years to come.

T-Mobile already has over 150 million subs worldwide. Adding Sprint would push it over the 200 million mark giving it some serious bargaining and buying power much moreso than what Verizon or AT&T could get.

I sure as hell hope this DOESN’T happen. That’s just what the wireless market needs: LESS competition :/ Like AT&T (the most expensive) and Verizon (almost just as expensive) aren’t pricey enough.

Nick

So would it be T-Sprint or Sprint Mobile?

Nick

So would it be T-Sprint or Sprint Mobile? I like the idea.

QuickWeevil

I like the name “Cheap” haha

Nick

So would it be T-Sprint or Sprint Mobile? I like the idea. Oh & speak of the prices to have both Lte & 4G

Brad

How about SprinT-Mobile? That would work for me. =)

I gotta admit, I didn’t have any clue that Sprint and T-Mobile were considering merging. I didn’t know how that could be possible, given their completely incompatible CDMA and GSM networks. However, if they find a way to do it through LTE, I think it would be a worthwhile move. Both of them are hurting alone, but pooling their resources, they could very well become a big contender to Verizon and AT&T, especially if they hold onto their reasonably-priced rate plans. Until then, Verizon has the most reliable and most available network of them all, so I’m sticking with what works.

phone_booger

Sprint Mobile sounds better

Frankfurter

How about T-Mint?

Sin City

Sprint-Mobile with the hyphen included.

Jonathan:Brazil!

I don’t know if this will ever happen or not. But come on people, you have to admit that T-Mobile is getting better. Sure the phone selection could be better but T-Mobile is rolling out HSPA+ and that will bring 4G speeds to many consumers.

Sin City

I think both companies are getting better, even though the customer numbers won’t show it. They are not sitting on their asses and just accept defeat. Customers win when they have different choices to make, rather than one obvious option.

Joe

If they buy T-Mobile, use the extra cash flow to rapidly expand both WiMax and LTE we would have an obvious winner.